SMC gives urban farming a shot
Employees and workers doing support jobs will be given a plot of land in what will be dubbed as SMC’s Malasakit Garden
The first urban farm that San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is building within its sprawling head office complex in Ortigas will help build self-sufficiency among its support staff and help put agriculture back into the spotlight.
SMC said it will convert portions of its head office space into small urban farms under the project.
Under the program, interested employees and workers doing support jobs will be given a plot of land in what will be dubbed as SMC’s “Malasakit Garden” for them to use as a space to grow whatever produce they like.
They can then choose to either bring home their harvest, or to sell these for a profit at a small Malasakit Garden Farmers market stall to be set up at the complex.
“In this time of pandemic, many Filipinos are looking for ways to earn extra income, or at the very least, make sure they have sufficient supply of food. Realizing the importance of food security, many are also exploring growing their own food. That is why we thought of this simple project to help our maintenance workers, as well as our own employees,” SMC president Ramon S. Ang said.
Fertile SMC lots
Ang recounted that the land is available and is good for planting. It doesn’t take so much to try and help people, especially those who help us do our work everyday. “We partnered with a non-profit, SEED Philippines, and they will be the ones teaching our people how to succeed at urban farming. With this, we hope the Malasakit Garden can augment healthy food supply for some of our workers, or serve as an additional source of income,” Ang added.
Ang expects SMC employees to grow to like planting, hone their skills, and experience a practical life skill for them.
“Many support workers actually grew up in the province and know how to plant, except, there is no land for them to do it here in the city,” Ang said.
Green all spaces
Ang added the project will hopefully encourage more businesses to transform urban arease into functioning ecological spaces and help agriculture flourish.
They can then choose to either bring home their harvest, or to sell these for a profit at a small Malasakit Garden Farmers market stall.
Early on in the pandemic, SMC committed to protect the jobs of all its employees and extended workforce and provide various support for their frontline staff, including free swab testing and access to bikes so they can move around safely.
SMC has tapped SEED Philippines to ensure the success of Malasakit Garden. SEED’s advocacy is to help eradicate poverty in low-income families through specialized programs on agri-entrepreneurship.
They teach organic vegetable production, soil management, planting materials production, and pest and disease management.